Ballmer confirms Windows 8 systems on sale in 2012?

Windows 7 has been a resounding success for Microsoft, helping to push customer satisfaction levels to an all-time high. The boys in Redmond aren’t resting on their laurels, however, and work on Windows 8 continues at a rapid pace. There’s been talk of Microsoft showing Windows 8 off at the upcoming All Things D conference in June, and that seems like a certainty following CEO Steve Ballmer’s new revelations at the Microsoft’s Developer Forum in Japan.

Ballmer told attendees that the next generation of Windows systems will come out next year, later adding that “you ought to expect to hear a lot about … Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors.” It might not seem like a big deal, but some in Redmond clearly do. A Microsoft spokesperson quickly reached out to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley, saying Ballmer had made a “misstatement.” The company has yet to formally announce any formal naming or information regarding the timing of its release, but 2012 has been the projected target for Windows 8 for quite some time.

It’s interesting, however, that Ballmer chose to differentiate between slates and tablets. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but Microsoft has talked before about different devices for content consumption and content creation. While the “next generation of Windows devices” could indeed be powered by Windows 8, the ones Ballmer was talking about could, in fact, be running Windows Embedded Compact — which Microsoft is pushing as its slate operating system.

If that turns out to be the case, it doesn’t preclude a Windows 8 release in 2012 — it just means all Ballmer really confirmed is that someone at Microsoft thinks Windows 8 is a decent choice for the next release.

Speak Your Mind

NEWERA

“Windows embedded compact” sounds more like something crammed in a woman’s purse than an OS.

No, for me, I’m through with Windows upgrades and all the hassle. I want an OS that works and that is dependable all the time. I’m going to stay with XP as long as possible, then consider other OS. I want to turn on the device and go to work. I don’t want to have to worry more about whether my machine is going to work, than the work I have to complete.

It’s a whole new era and Microsoft has missed the boat so many times already. I can’t count the hours I’ve spent fine tuning programs after a Windows “upgrade” or the money I’ve spent buying a new version of a program that worked fine on the previous version of Windows. It’s nonsense for the most part. And I also want hardware that isn’t a major challenge — why won’t my scanner work on Windows 7 like it did before? This is the nonsense I’m going to avoid from now on.

Keep Windows off my phone and my desktop, and certainly my tablet or my slate. Is that what they call an iPad or a Galaxy? Really ………

NEWERA

“Windows embedded compact” sounds more like something crammed in a woman’s purse than an OS.

No, for me, I’m through with Windows upgrades and all the hassle. I want an OS that works and that is dependable all the time. I’m going to stay with XP as long as possible, then consider other OS. I want to turn on the device and go to work. I don’t want to have to worry more about whether my machine is going to work, than the work I have to complete.

It’s a whole new era and Microsoft has missed the boat so many times already. I can’t count the hours I’ve spent fine tuning programs after a Windows “upgrade” or the money I’ve spent buying a new version of a program that worked fine on the previous version of Windows. It’s nonsense for the most part. And I also want hardware that isn’t a major challenge — why won’t my scanner work on Windows 7 like it did before? This is the nonsense I’m going to avoid from now on.

Keep Windows off my phone and my desktop, and certainly my tablet or my slate. Is that what they call an iPad or a Galaxy? Really ………

NEWERA

Oh yeah, before someone pops on here and defends the Redmond folks, let me remind you of the 64 fix download due out as reported in PC World. And tell me this, why when I do a windows update does it always want to download the 150Mb WIndows Live program. It doesn’t even ask me if I want it — instead it adds this as a required update.

Hogwash MS. If I wanted Windows Live, I would ask for it. It’s bad enough getting all the updates downloaded and installed. Keep Windows Live on your side of the net and leave me alone so I can work. I know you wanted it to be Windows Lives, but I’m afraid it doesn’t.

NEWERA

Oh yeah, before someone pops on here and defends the Redmond folks, let me remind you of the 64 fix download due out as reported in PC World. And tell me this, why when I do a windows update does it always want to download the 150Mb WIndows Live program. It doesn’t even ask me if I want it — instead it adds this as a required update.

Hogwash MS. If I wanted Windows Live, I would ask for it. It’s bad enough getting all the updates downloaded and installed. Keep Windows Live on your side of the net and leave me alone so I can work. I know you wanted it to be Windows Lives, but I’m afraid it doesn’t.

FreeYourMind

Windows 8? They made another Windows after XP?

Schpunty

Well here we go again with Ole Steve’O…..
This guy is the King of BS……..
Lies to software buyers to let them think that Ole Microsuck is on the leading edge……Ha!
Yes, he is the King of Vaporware…………….
Promise them everything, then as time gets closer to the ultimate release date, remove things because you can’t deliver…….
What an idiot…..
Stick to trying to get the role as the monster in the Young Frankenstein sequel Steve…….you look just like him without hardly any makeup! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh yeah, forgot to congratulate you on that Windows Phone 7 thingy……as Gartner shows…….it’s selling like a lead balloon………you are so past tense……….get it?